Portable derrick



y 31, 1949' D. R. M OORE PORTABLE DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 194% a INVENTOR. Dewey R Moo/e ZZM d 3 f M a L f .1 z M 0 8 M \5 K33 M 3 1 X 4 4 H May 31, 1949' D. R. MOORE 2,471,492

PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Sept. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 #1: Arron/v5) May 31, 1949.

D. MOORE PORTABLE DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 12, 1946 R m Y mw AM u E R Mm m R w e D A N Mm 0 w 2 \Q N k v MN ww @M Na Q mu YR. w v ws v h Q May 31, 1949. D; R. MOORE PORTABLE DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 12, 1946 INVEN TOR. Deu ey R. Moo/'2 Patented May 31, 1949 um'rao STATES PATENT OFFICE Appllcatio rrlzze zilfxzd gzr lrl ho. 696A" This invention relates to portable derrlcks and more particularly to a portable derrick such as may be used in connection with well drilling or servicing operations, although not limited thereto.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a portable derrick which is highly eihclent in operation, yet easy and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. 7

Another object is the provision of. an apparatus of the class described which requires a minimum of power to operate into its erect and dismantled positions. I

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter described and as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of several of the number of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

lnsaid drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the Claiml. (Cl. 189-11) portable derrick oi the present invention in its erect and operative position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view on the III-m of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view similar to that of Figure l, but illustrating the component elements of the portable derrick in the first stages of dismantling;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to the showline ing of Figure 4, but illustrating the component elements of the portable derrick in progressively .more advanced stages of the dismantling operation;

Figure 8 is a composite view illustrating some of the component elements of the ap ratus in fully dismantled and racked position, with the remainder of the component elements disconnected therefrom and ready for superposition thereon: and

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevational view of a preferred form of detachable hinged joint employed in the derrick.

In the interest of simplicity, the portable derrick of the present invention will first be described in its erect and operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the derrick comprises a rectangular base formed of a pair of parallel I-beams 2 joined at their respective ends a pair of tubular end members 3.

At one end of I-beams 2 there is mounted a pair of opposed and transversely aligned vertically extending inverted V-shaped supports 4 which are connected together by a transverse tubular member 6 which extends between them at thepoints where their respective leg members converge. a

At the opposite ends of I-beams 2 there is provided a pair of uprights I which extend vertically and outwardly with respect to the base; and on the upper end of each of these uprights there is mounted a U-shaped saddle II, the recesses formed by the said saddles aligning with each other horizontally, as shown. Suitable diagonal bracing members l2 extend between the uprights 8 and the adjacent I-beams which form the side members of the base.

Atop each of the supports 4 there is secured the bottom half of a horizontally disposed hinge it, the pintle of which is disposed inwardly of the base. as shown in Figure l.

To the upper half or each of the horizonta disposed hinges N there is secured the bottom of one of a pair of upwardly convergent leg members which form part of a mast section 16, the same being hereinafter designated the "lower mast section." As shown. the lower mast section it is provided with cross-members II and diagonal bracing members 2!, and, in addition, the upwardly convergent leg members are provided with cantilever-type brac members 22 for the purpose of increasing re tance against buckling in directions at right angles to the major plane of the said mast section.

Atop the upper end'of each of the convergent leg members of the lower mast section i6 is the bottom half of a horizontally disposed hinge 23, ghe pintle of which is disposed outwardly of the ase.

To the upper half of each of the horizontally disposed hinges 22 there is secured the bottom of one of a pair of upwardly convergent leg members which form part of a mast section 26, the

same being similar in construction and design to the lower mast sectionflll, and hereinafter designated as the upper mast section.

To the lower end of the upper mast section 26 there is pivotally and detachably connected the top of a diagonal main brace 30 which depends downwardly and diagonally to extend over the opposite end of the base for a purpose which will be later described. This elongate diagonal main brace 20 is composed of suitably connected longitudinal and transverse tubular sections, and in side elevation defines a truss which tapers toward v mast support at a position adjacent to, but spaced detachable hinged joint for connecting main,

brace 38 and lower section 88 of the diagonal mast support. Inwardly protruding apertured ears 88 are fixed to opposite sides of section 38. The side members of brace 38 have eyes 8| at their extremities. A pintle 82 is removably received within eyes 8| and the apertures in cars 88. Preferably said pintle is retained by a cotter key 83. It is seen that hinging of brace 88 can take place about pintle 82 and that said brace can be detached from section 38 on removal of cotter key 83 and pintle 82. The two other detachable hinged connections-namely that between the upper end of brace 38 and the lower end of mast section 28 and that between the upper end of the upper section of the mast support and the upper mast section (i. e. connection 4|) are preferably of similar construction and hence are not shown in detail.

The upper end of the lower section 38 of the sectionally-arranged diagonal mast support, and the lower end of the upper section 48 thereof, are detachably connected through the agency of a pair of clamping plates 42 which as such form no part of the present invention and accordingly are not illustrated in detail in the drawings nor further described hereinafter. The lower end of the lower section 38 of the diagonal mast support is provided with a'roller 43 which is mounted on a horizontal axis and constructed and arranged to make rolling contact with the ground.

In relatively close adjacency tothe roller 43 at the bottom of the lower section 38 of the diagonal mast support there is provided a pair of spaced parallel pulleys 45 which rotate on a common horizontal axis.

The lower end of the upper section 48 of the diagonal mast support is connected, by a detachable auxiliary brace 82, with the lower end of the upper mast section 28, the said auxiliary brace simply comprising a pair. of conventionally shaped, and attached, leg members.

On the base there is mounted a prime mover 58 driving a drum 5! onto which there is reeled a rope 88. The rope 88 is reeved over one of the pulleys 45, over a sheave 82 (which is disposed above the said pulleys), reversed upon itself, passed back over the other of the pulleys 45, and dead-ended, as at 84, onto the base. The sheave 82 carries a crossbar 88 to which are attached two upwardly extending parallel ropes 88, Figure 2. A pair of sheaves 88 are rotatably mounted in lower section 38 near its upper extremity. Ropes 88 extend through said lower section and pass around the under side of said sheaves and are attached to the upper section 48 of the diagonal mast support. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the immediately foregoing construction and arrangement of ropes and associated instrumentalities produces a mechanical advantage such as will result in a minimum of line pull, or required power, for erecting and dismantling the component elements of the portable derrick.

. permitting both the upper mast section 28 and Through'the medium of the prime mover 88, drum 81, ropes 88 and 88, etc., the portable derrick may be dismantled from the position of Figure 1 in the following manner.

The hinge 23 which connects the lower and upper mast sections l8 and 28, respectively, is permitted to open as shown in Figure 4, and the rope 88 is paid-out from the drum 81. This permits the lower mast section l8 to pivot about its supports 4, and move downwardly over the base until its top cross-member l8 seats in the saddles l8 atop the uprights 8, as shown in Figure 5. During this lowering movement of the lower mast section l8, the lower end of the lower section 38 of the diagonal mast support moves outwardly on its ground-contacting roller 43 and carries with it the lower end of the elongate diagonal main brace 38..

When the component elements have moved into the approximate positions of Figure 6, the flange connections 42 are disconnected, and the paying out of the rope 88 is continued. thereby the upper section 48 of the diagonal mast support to overlie the lower mast section l8 in its supported position on the base. As shown in Figure 6, after flange connections 42 are disconnected, ropes 88 support section 88 for lowering onto brace 38. At this point the pair of cables 88 is detached from the upper section 48 of the diagonal mast support. Then, the detachable auxiliary brace 52 is disconnected and the elements made to occupy the relative positions shown in Figure 7. At this point, there is broken the pivotal connection between the upper end of the elongate diagonal main brace 38 and what had previously been the lower end of the upper mast section 28. Now, the elements illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 8 may be moved, as by a crane hook, into superposed relationship with respect to the dismantled and supported elements shown on the right-hand side of the said figure.

When the elements have been made to assume the aforementioned superposed relationship, the entire portable derrick may be conveniently moved, along with the base, as a compact unit.

In order to raise the component elements of the portable derrick into the erect or operative position shown in Figure l, the foregoing procedure is simply reversed.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the parallel side members of the sectionaliy-arranged diagonal mast support are provided with transverse rungs, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon the said mast support may also serve as a ladder.

While I have shown and described certain specicflc embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable derrick or the like comprising a support, a lower mast section pivotally mounted at its lower end on said support and adapted for alternative movement into substantially horiupper and lower mast sections being outwardly of said support, a diagonal mast support including a pair of detachable and juxtaposed sections, the upper section of said mast support being pivotally connected to said upper mast section adjacent the upper portion of the latter, the lower section of said mastsupport extending to the ground, an elongate diagonal brace pivotally connected to and extending between the lower end of said upper mast section and the lower end of said diagonal mast support, and means for positioning the lower end of said diagonal mast support relative to said first named support.

2. A portable derrick or the like comprising a support, a lower mast section pivotally mounted at its lower end on said support and adapted for alternative movement into substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions, an upper mast section pivotally connected to the free end of said lower mast section and adapted to alternately occupy juxtaposed and overlying positions with respect to said lower mast section, the pivotal connection between said lower mast section and said support being inwardly of said support and the pivotal connection between said upper and lower mast sections being outwardly of said support, a diagonal mast support including a pair of detachable and juxtaposed sections, the upper section of said mast support being pivotally connected to said upper mast-section adjacent the upper portion of the latter, the lower section of said mast support extending to the ground, an elongate diagonal brace pivotally connected to and extending between the lower end of said upper mast section and the lower end of said diagonal mast support, an auxiliary brace the ground and movable with respect thereto, an

elongate diagonal brace pivotally connected to and extending between the lower end of said upper mast section and-the lower end of said diagonal mas-t support, a sheave on the exterior of said diagonal mast support, a pair of parallel ropes connecting said sheave with the lower end of the upper section of said diagonal mast support, a pair of horizontally rotatable pulleys mounted adjacent the lower end of said diagonal extending between the lower end oi. said upper,

mast section and the lower end of the lower section of said diagonal mast support, and means for positioning the lower end of said diagonal mast support relative to said first named support.

3. A portable derrick or the like comprising a support, a lower mast section pivotally mounted at its lower end on said support and adapted for alternative movement into substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions, an upper mast section pivotally connected to the free end of said lower mast section and adapted to alternately occupy juxtaposed and overlying positions with respect to said lower mast section, the pivotal connection between said .lower mast section and said support being inwardly of said support and the pivotal connection between said upper and lower mast sections being outwardly of said support, a diagonal mast support including a pair of detachable and juxtaposed sections, the upper section of said mast support being pivotally connected to said upper mast section adjacent the upper portion of the latter, the lower section of saidmast support extending to the ground, a ground-contacting roller carried on the lower end of said mast support, an elongate diagonal brace pivotally connected to and extending between tthe lower end of said upper mast section and the lower end of said diagonal mast support, and means for positioning the lower end of said diagonal mast support relative to said first named support. I

4. A portable derrick or the like comprising ,a support, a lower mast section pivotally mounted at its lower end on said support andadapted for alternative movement into substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions, an upper mast section pivotally'connected to the free end of said lower mast section and adapted mast support, a drum, and a rope having one of its ends connected to said drum, said rope being reeved over one of said pulleys, said sheave, the other of said pulleys, and dead-ended.

5. A portable derrick or the like comprising a support, a lower mast section pivotally mounted at its lower end on said support and adapted for alternative movement into substantially horizontal I and substantially vertical positions, an upper mast section pivotally connected to the free end of said lower mast section and adapted to alternately occupy juxtaposed and overlying positions with respect to said lower mast section, the pivotal connection between said lower mast section and said support being inwardly of said support and the pivotal connection between said upper and lower mast sections being outwardly of said support, a diagonal mast support including a pair of detachable and juxtaposed sections,

the upper section of said mast support being pivotally connected to said upper mast section adjacent the upper portion of the latter, the lower section of said mast support extending to the, ground, a ground-contacting roller carried on the lower end of said mast support, an elongate diagonal bracepivotally connected to and extending between tthe lower end oi said upper mast section and the lower end of said diagonal mast support, an auxiliary brace extending between the lower end oi said upper mast section and the lower end oi. the lower section of said diagonal mast support, a sheave on the exterior of said diagonal mast support, a pair oi. parallel ropes connecting said sheave with the lower'end of the upper section of said diagonal mast support, a pair of horizontally rotatable pulleys mounted adjacent the lower end of said diagonal mast support, a drum, and a rope having one of its ends connected to said drum, said rope being reeved over one or said pulleys, said sheave, the other of said pulleys, and dead-ended.

DEWEY R. MOORE,

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

